Water-level indicator.



No. 824,098. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906. J. T. DAWES.

WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 2s, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1906.

Application filed June 23, 1905. Serial No. 266,663.

To a/ZZ whom it may concer-:n:

Beit known that I, JOHN THOMAS DAwEs, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Liverpool, inthe county of Lancaster,

England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Water-LevelIndicators for team-Boilers or Like Containers, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby an unsafevariation in the water-level in steam-boilers or like containers may bereadily ascertained or recorded at a distance from the containers as acheck upon the attendant. I attain this object by mechanism constructedand o erating substantially as illustrated on the accompanying drawings,whereon- Figure 1 is a general diagrammatic View of the appliances, andFig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the contact-plug and connectionsinserted through the shell of the container. Fig. 3 is a detail view ofa modification.

1 is an electric conducting-wire passing through a rod or plug 2, ofporcelain or other electric insulating material, and secured tightlytherein by fusing or otherwise. The

`rod'2 is inclosed in an outer casing 3, preferably metallic, which isscrewed into an opening 4 in the shell 5 of a boiler or other likecontainer, so that the ends of the Wire and casing 3 roject into thewater or steam s ace. The rod 2 has an enlar ement 6, so t at it can bepacked steam an water tight in a stufling-box 7 in the casing 3. Theinner end of the casing 3 surrounds the wire 1, projecting from the rod2, so as to give ample surface for electric, contact and to preventdamage to the wire 1, and to allow free access of water, while avoidingmud lodging in the end of the casing,`it is perforated or indented,

,as at 8.

9 is a cover secured to the casing 3 andv surrounding the outer end ofthe wire 1,. which has a terminal clamp 1()v for securing thereto anelectric conducting-wire 11, which passes insulated through an opening12 in the side of the cover 9. y

13 is a covering-pipe to protect the wire 11.

14 is a return or earth wire connected to the casing 3 or to the metal5.

15 is a cap on the cover 9, through which access can be had to theterminal 10.

9a is a weep-hole in the cover 9 to allow escape of water leakin fromthe stuflin -boX. The cap 15 may be astened by a lea rivet 16 orotherwise locked.

17 18 19- 2O 21 22 indicate the shells of six steam-boilers or othercontainers, each having a casing 3, with its connections securedtherein. The wires 11 are connected to corresponding contact-pieces 2324 25 26 27 28, while the common return-wire 14 is connected, throughan,indicator 29, .electromagnet 30, and battery 31 or other source ofelectricity, to a rotary switch-arm 32, which can contact successivelywith the pieces 28 to 23.

33 34 35 36 37 38 are contactieces connected vto cach other and throug aresistance 39 to contact-pieces 40 41 42 43 44 45.

The switch-arm 32 carries insulated therefrom a bridge-piece 46 formaking contact between the pieces 23 40, 24 41, 25 42, 26 43 27 44, 2845. The shaft 47 of the arm 32 may be rotated by a cord 48 and weight 49or by other convenient mechanism, so that the arm 32 passes successivelyover the six sets of contact-pieces).

50 is an escapement-catch pivoted at 51 to retain the arm 32 in normalposition. The catch 50 has an armature 52 attached thereto and disposedin front' of an electromagnet 53.

54 is a clock provided with a non-conductive disk 55, havingcontact-pieces 56 thereon. The disk is arranged to revolve at a certainrate-say one revolution perhour-and as each contact 56 closes thecircuit through the contact-pins 57 the electromagnet 53 is energized,the armature 52 attracted, and the switch-arm 32 allowed to rotate once.

58 is an armature above the magnet 30 and provided with a marking-pointdisposed .above a drum 59 1s shown apart for clearness; but in practiceit may be secured on the shaft 4'7 of the arm 32 and rotate therewith.Instead of the casing 3 being secured in the boiler itself it may besecured-in an auxiliary container 60, connected with the boiler, asshown at Fig. 3. This is a convenient arrangement when it is desired toascertain the exact level of the water. The wire 1 and inner end of thecasing 3 are made longer and arranged vertical or inclined, so that thewire 1 is only gradually submerged as the water rises.

61. is a block of insulating material, to

aper ribbon on a drum 59. The

which the end, the wire 1, is attached to keep depends to a great extenton the surface of wire 1 submerged. Therefore as the waterlevel in theboiler rises the wire 1 in the container will be more and more submergedand more current will pass the indicator 29, thus, deiiecting the needleof the indicator farther in proportion. Thus the exact level of thewater canbe ascertained.' Instead of being vertical, as shown, the wire1 and casing 3 may be at any angle desired so long as one end is higherthan'the other.

The action of the ap liances is as follows: AS the disk 55 lis revo vedby the clock the electric circuit of the magnet 53 is periodicallyclosed and the armature 52 attracted, thus releasing the arm 32,.whichby means of 'the weight 49 commences 'to rotate. When the arm 32touches the contact-piece'38, the bridge-piece 46 connects Qthecon'tactsL28 45.

A circuit is thus established from the'batteryv 31 throughthe arm 32,c0ntact38, resistance 39, contact-pieces 45 28, Wire 1 in boiler22,casingS, indicator29, `and magnet 30. The resistance, however, is ofsuch strength that when combined with the resistance of the waterinthezboiler current sufficient tooperate the indicator 29 or recorder58 59 will not pass. If, however, the water in the boiler was allowed togo below the wire 1 and the attendant should endeavor to conceal theneglect by making a metallic contact at some point near the boiler, thetotal resistance wouldbe so-much reduced that the indicator 29 andrecorder 58 59 would be operated at an improper position, thus showinthat the circuit had been tampered With. en

the arm 32 is moved on to the contact-piece 28 the resistance 39is cutout and the current passes direct from the arm 32 through the contact 28to the .wire 1in the boiler, and if thewater is higher than the Wi-re 1the indicator 29 and recorder`5'859 Willbe operated at the properpositionthus showing that. the water'is at a safe level. Ii the .Watershould be below the wire 1, no current will ass and the indicator andrecorder will not e operated, thus showing by a'blanlr space on thepaper ribbonthat'the water has been at an unsafe level. As the arm 32continues to ro.-

tate. it passes. over'the other'sets of contactboilers and a number Aofmarks are made or blanks left on the paper ribbon in certain positions,thus showing whether the water in each boiler has been maintained at asafe level or not or whether any of the electric circuits have beentampered with. When the arm 32 has made one revolution, it is arrestedby the catch 50 until the circuit through the magnet 53 is again closedby one of-.the'contact-pieces onthe disk. Any .other convenientautomatic periodical re'.- cording mechanism than that describedmay beused or such mechanismrnay be dispensed with and the switch-arm32 movedb'yhand when required, the indicator 29 alone being then used,whichindicatormayibe a pointer, shutterbell,.or other convenientwell-known device.

What 'I claim is- 1. A water-level indicator cons-is'ing or an electricconductl -wire partlyinclse'd in insulating materia ,packed luid-tightin a casing secured inthe shell ofthefwater-con-I tainer adapted toexpose thewire in thefinlterior of the container the inner end othecasing extending over theexposedfpart oithe wire and being slotted ,I asource of electricity, an indicator, connecti'n line-wires, and aswitch, .substantially as escrilaed.

2. A waterelevel'indicator consisting oit an electric conducting-Wire,partly inclosed in insulating material packed huid-tight gin a casingsecured in the shell ci the-watchcontainer adaptedto expose the theiin-V4 terior ofthe container, a coverattached tothe casing andsurrounding the. outer'terminal of the wire andhaving anopening'thereinffor the line-Wire, a cap onthe cover securedby a lockingdevice, a source of. electricity,.an1in dicator, connectingline-wires,and a switch, substantially as described. Y

In ytestimony whereof Ihave signed' my name tothis specificatienin'thefpresence. of two subscribing Witnesses.

JQHN vinscrits .Dawes Witnessesz A W. B. .Ferguson H. Llenfrroor.,

